A group monitoring animal research at the University of Illinois’ Division of
Animal Resources says some of them have become very ill, and one has died as a
result of negligence.

The executive director of “Stop Animal Exploitation Now,” Michael Budkie,
says such a problem isn’t unique to the U of I, noting that animals have died at
30 other research facilities around the country in the last few years. Citing
reports obtained from the USDA, Budkie claims the U of I uses a large number of
animals in painful projects without the benefit of anesthesia. In another
instance, he says the university failed to report severe illnesses to federal
authorities for a year, and that the principal investigator lost the records in
that time.

“If a researcher can have severe illnesses come up with the animals and no
one knows about it, and he or she does not bother to report it for a year, that
indicates very clearly that the supervisory mechanisms for handling animal
research at the University of Illinois-Urbana aren’t functioning properly,”
Budkie contended.

U of I Spokeswoman Robin Kaler says these are all isolated incidents that
have been reported to the USDA, and that the process to identify problems keeps
them from happening again. She says one of the animals died when it was
mistakenly administered a glucose tolerance test in diabetes research. Kaler
says it was euthanized when attempts to revive the animal were unsuccessful. She
cites another case involving a formula to ensure the health growth of piglets,
which were moved shortly after researchers realize they had outgrown their cages.